Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1887-04-23
AGRICULTURAL CHEMISTRY.
sORs POISrs AB0Ur rss ssossr ~
AUOODss IN HAMAls0.
a rev prso,,cs, u,sss 70 ssrmsss ESD 0srtss'.
srs-Asa,ys,s os ohs~'ss' 1sss'''ssrs and
rasnysrd Mssarss-tiow Asssss'sss's's
MAJ vastly Increase Tssis Protu.
For tho tsraiLiaxscER

For tho iHrntLtoENCkR
Tho principle of chemistry, - applied 10
agriculture, 10 10 fully understand what the
coil requires ~ produce certain cropa-to
learn just what the article they apply 70 the
soil contains, aud N study what amount of
and what kind OF elements arc carried of
by certain cropa These are oil things Of
which the average farmer seldom thinkA
Thirty years ago science aud connection with
agriculture was ID little understood that
farmers had no other guide than tho old
practices OF their fathers, who by OF
periSnco aud observation had been taught
that the use Of fArmyArd manure
incro Ved the prOductivsne ~ Of their farms.
Natural guano WAS Then discovered, which
Increased the yield OF crops to sgrsat extent,
but that WAS limited, which lSd scientific
men to investigate and try to utilize by con.
csntra,ion and man nufscture into commercial
fertilizers the wastes from the large cities
and the oitAl from tho slaughter housoA
This consisted oi blood, bone aud meat,
which, by concentration, produces . higher
grade and more efficient aud surer fertilizer
containing from 10 per cont TO IS per cent.
OF phosphoric acid and per cent OF am
monia, which are the elements mostly needed
In the plant. Next 10 that comes potash
which In required by the plant for Its s0od or
grain, and phOsphoric acid for IL stalk, with
such mineral elements - silax, soda lime
maKnesis, Sc., aud for tts roots, potssh.
having such articles Of nutriment In proper
ton, except the plant itself, and highly con.
csntrAted animal bone fertilizers. Corn 70.
luires tho largest amount OF potash and
nitrogen, and three times ~ much phosphoric
acid as wheat This TACT ought to convince
the farmer tbst to produce = tine corn crop he
must manure his corniield to much greater
extent than he would were he planting
wheat or oa,a Besides, the corn crop has
only or 1 months 10 mature, while the
wheat crop has 10 months In which 70 do the
same work. This applies 10 tobacco In the
same proportion. To raise l. 80 pounds OF
tobacco from an acre, It will require los
pounds Of potash, 81 pounds OF lime 10 pounds
of niagnesis, - pounds Of phosphorus acid, IL
pounds OF sui phur and 81 pounds OF nitrogen.
How can any one put this in the soil by using
iArm-yard manure? Why II would require
some ~ One-horse loads to . single AcTe This
would Of course do the work aud leave the soil
In the same condition as II WAS before the crop
was raj sod, " hich should be done, except that
there would be some undeco onpossd straw
and vegetable matter which would be Of ben.
eft to tue following crop. But look ut the
work and expense.
THE SECRET OF SUCCESS
The great art OF saving aud making
manure II the principal secret OF success In
farming This consists In retaining and
applying to the best advantage those soluble
and gaseous portions that accumulate to such
great extent on every farm. Probably one
third Of all the material which exists Ia tbs
country Is totally lost by not attending T. the
drainage OF the stables aud farm yard. As
soon rs there IL any water accumulated
around farm yard, It should be Uttered
with straw, sawdust (when saw mills are
near or by ths frequent coating OF dry
swamp Dnck, or dried peat. OF VII ci there
IL plenty in our country. That w,il absorb
the manurial portions oil the water, aud hold
the ammonia and potash ia store for 81 ant
food. Tne loss Of manure, by the escape OF
ga, is often very great The prac-
iitis i'sG IL sh.v s sIs arsra %' Of s sns haa. n1~
dreds they are losing by suffering
this most valuable element OF their farm to
escape. Indeed, there are some who care. .
fully and very ingeniousiy, as they suppose,
place their barns and cattle yards In such n
manner on the sides OF hills that all the drain
age may pass OH out OF the way into = neigh
boring stream, so as Ia keep their stables and
yard clean and dry. One farmer In particular,
with pre- eminent shrewdDess, built his hot,
pen directly across . little stream that he
might at once get the cleAnings washed away
and prevent their ACCUMULATION. Oi course
he succeeded IN his wish, but he might, with
almost equal propriety, have built his granAry
across the stream ~ to shovel the wheat
and com into the water when II increased on
his hands.
All neat, all profitable and satisfactory
farming cope nds upon the careful saw n { OF
manure, and to IN AXE every particle OF vtge
table matt r available, and work Il iu'o the
soil ~ early as possible, and the sane with
manure. II Is true that by letting manure
lie long time II becomes more soluble, but
By 40 doing u 5 !osiug u portion OF its most
valuable matter, ammonia. Let fresh manure
be thoroughly ground down aud worked
into the ground by repeated narrowing and
two or three Il pwings, and its inii iuenca will
be like magic But II IL seldom, indeto, that
al adequate supply OF this manure IL found
on farm and II there's, the farmer should
never depend upon 1t entirely, but to Insure
his crop use an honestly made chemical and
b jne fertilizer, and buy only the best, re
inembering that u cheap articte Is al way = ex-
pensiVe in the end. High grade concen-
tratsd chemical fertilizers are now recognized
~ 30 important n factor in the agriculture OF
all civilized countries that a discussion OF
their tiicacy on various CT ops form one OF the
most prominent topics of conversation
among farmers. SO indispensable have these
artificial usnures come, and 40 requisite
are they to tho profitable culture OF the soil,
that their manufacture and sale have as
suued enormous proportions, involving
such An amount OF capital, scientific ski ana
experience which to those unacquainted
with the iact would seem incredible.
SOME NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
We frequently hear the farmer express
himself IN tni, way 'My grain aiwAy.
lodges before II Is fully insured, and by
addins phosphate 1t will bs more so.' This
- not the TACT. There Is want OF mag nesia,
oxide OF iron, slsx, soda, &c, which are the
only elements that make the stalk, and II
the soil Is deficient IN thenl, the plant can.
not fully mature, and will be blown over
by the first storm. II there Ii chemical
manure applied, which contains all the
aOovs elements, with sufficient potash, there
will be large, healthy and vigorous root,
that must and will develop perfection in q
crop. The most important thing, however,
for the farmer to bear In mind, In TO be sure
aud buy the best goods, and save the freight
and handling on q lot OF cheap goods from
which he receives no benefit. Farm yard
manure Uresh) contains 20 per cent Ot
water. Tnis leaves "a per cent OF materials
that will stay in the soil. Ons ton Of unfer.
mented manure, would yield iS0 pounds of
solid matter, which costs from 81 80 to e. so
This cOniars about pounds Ot ammonia,
pounds OF phOspboric acid, and
pounds OF potash. IL buy these elements
In the form Of salts would cost
about g. ~ and IL IL much easier to handle,
and more sol uble to the soil. One hundred
pounds of pure bone phosphate, ct cost OF
q 80 to l75, contains IL pounds Of phOs
phOric acid, So pounds OF ammonia, and o to
pounds of oxide OF potassium X. 2 o. This
will convince all which Is the cheapest and
hest. Its contents are oil soluble In the soil,
and will dissolve In the chemists solvent In
80 minuteM There Ia no free acid In honest
bone fertilizer to destroy the mineral ele-
msnts In the soil, ~ 1t 10 almost neutral
Natural guaD0, on account OF its large per-
centage OF phosphate Of lime and carbonate
OF lime in chemical combinations, with Its
alkaline salts made by Natures laboratory,
n a uOnd f0rtiliZar WHARF DhOaDhOFC RC.0 In